Govt. of Tamilnadu Department of School Education Bridge Course 2011-2012 Class VII

1. Govt. of TamilnaduDepartment of School EducationBridge Course 2011-2012Class VII

2. VII HISTORY

3. Chola period • Sources • Inscriptions talk about life of the rulers administration,political,econimic,religious,social,and cultural conditions during the chola period • important inscriptions are found at Cuddalore,Villupuram,Trichy,Tanjore,Chidambaram,Kumbakonam and Nagapattinam • monuments are part of temples • Numismatics(study of coins) • Chola Kings issued gold,silver and copper coins Figure of tiger was engraved has the chola emblem on every chola coin

4. Coins

5. Literature: Many literary works speak about the cholas and their administration • Foreign sources Marco polo,Megasthanese give interesting informations about the cholas mahavamsam talk about the relation ship between the early cholas and ceylon kingdom

6. Rulers • VijayalayaChola 848–871 • Aditya I 871–907 • ParantakaChola I 907–950 • Gandaraditya 950–957 • ArinjayaChola 956–957 • SundaraChola 957–970 • UttamaChola 970–985 • RajarajaChola I 985–1014 • RajendraChola I 1012–1044 • RajadhirajaChola 1018–1054 • RajendraChola II 1051–1063 • VirarajendraChola 1063–1070 • AthirajendraChola 1067–1070

7. KulothungaChola I 1070–1120 • VikramaChola 1118–1135 • KulothungaChola II 1133–1150 • RajarajaChola II 1146–1173 • RajadhirajaChola II 1166–1178 • KulothungaChola III 1178–1218 • RajarajaChola III 1216–1256 • RajendraChola III 1246–1279

8. Rajarajachola - (985–1014) • Thiruvalangadu plates speak about rajaraja-I • He was the most powerful king of chola dynasty • He bought glory to the chola kingdom but also to the tamilcountry • He successfully completed dig vijayam and conquredkalinga and maldives • He also add titles arulmozhiRajakesari and mummudicholan

9. Rajendrachola 1012–1044 • Rajaraja the great was succeeded by his able son Rajendra-I • He captured the whole of ceylon • He bought water from ganges and put it into chola gangam now called has gangaikondacholapuram • He was given the title gangaikondan,kadaram kondan

10. Kulothunga-I (1120-1170)AD • Kulothunga gave turning point to chola history he introduced many reforms to improve the economic conditions • He abolished many taxes and gave relife to the people • His rule gave the benefits of internal peace and benevolent administration

11. CHOLA ADMINISTRATION • The entire Tanjore district, parts of’Trichy, Pudukottai and South Arcot districts formed the part of’ the Chola Mandalam • They had three major administrativeDivisions • Central Government • Provincial Government and • Local Government

12. Central Government • Central Government t under the headship of the King • Council of ministers and officials took active part in running the administration of Central Government • The higher officials were called Peruntaram and the lower officials were called Siruntaram.

13. Provincial Government • The Chola Empire was divided into nine provinces •  They were also called mandalams • The head of the province was called viceroy • Viceroys received orders from the king • They sent regular reply to the king

14. Local Government • Each mandalam was divided into number of Kottams or Valanadus • Each kottam was sub divided into nadu • Each nadu was further divided into (Urs) villages which form part of the last unit of the administration

15. Revenue • The land revenue was the main source of income of the Chola Government • Lands were classified as taxable land and non taxable land • Generally 1/6 of the land yield was collected as tax either in cash or in kind or both according to the convenience of the farmers

16. Military • The Cholas had an efficient army and navy • The Chola army consisted of elephant, cavalry and infantry • Soldiers were given proper training • The Chola arm had 60,000 elephants • The Chola navy was formidable one in South India • With the help of their navy the Cholas controlled Coromandal and Malabar coasts • Bay of Bengal became the Chola lake

17. Justice • The Chola king was the chief justice • The Chola kings gave enough care for the judicial administration • The village level judicial administration was carried on by the village assembly • Punishments were awarded by the judicial officers

18. Social conditions • There were different sections in society • The society was based as Varnasrama • According to the Varnasrama, society was divided into four major divisions • Namely Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas and Sudras • Chola Kings gave importance for the development of education • Women were given high status and freedom in the Chola society

19. Economic Conditions • Special officers were appointed to look into the income and expenditure of the state • Government money was spent on public works, defense, justice, education, temples, irrigation, police, king and his households, secretariat etc • The Chola kings issued gold, silver and copper coins • The Chola economy mainly depended on agriculture and trade

20. RELIGIOUS CONDITION • Chola Kings were tolerant towards other religions • Chola rulers supported the spread of Vaishnavisim • Tanjore, Kumbakonam, Avudaiyarkoil, Kalahasti Tirukadaiyur and Kanchipuram were important temple cities •  Bakthi songs were sung in all temples • Some people followed Buddhism and Jainism